The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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New coach has high hopes for Big Reds
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 20, 2008
It wouldn't be accurate to call the new Milan varsity girls' soccer coach, well, new.
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Not exactly. Not to the Milan soccer scene, at least.
Russ Billau, who just wrapped up his third year as head coach of the boys' varsity squad, has been tapped to replace the girls' longtime coach Phil Zuber, who last year moved out of state.
Billau said he expects his assumption as the girls' varsity head coach to be fairly smooth.
"I've known a lot of the girls for years," he said. "I've had many of them on my (club) team at one time or another. There are a lot of really skilled players on this team."
Billau is taking over the reins of a program that has shown consistent progress over the years, building from an 0-16 season in 1999 to six straight years of winning records and five years of second-place finishes in the Huron League, including last year when the Big Reds set the program's most-wins-in-a-season record with 15.
And this year, the Big Reds have eight experienced seniors to anchor a run at the program's first league title.
"It's a really strong class," Billau said. "Their attitude has been real good. They're going to make a real difference."
Among the returning seniors are Jessica Young and Sarah Towler, potent offensive weapons who last year scored 14 and 10 goals, respectively. Towler led the team with nine assists, just ahead of Young, who had eight. The Big Reds last year combined to score 65 goals while allowing their opponents only 15.
"I don't think we're going to have much trouble scoring," said Billau, noting that the key to success this season will be defense.
"We're going to have to not give up goals," he said. "The team's goal is to not let any goals in."
Last year, the Big Reds posted nine shutouts in 18 contests and were shutout in each of their three losses - two of which came at the hands of perennial league powerhouse Grosse Ile.
Billau said he is "serious about defeating Grosse Ile" this year, a team the Milan girls have beaten only once in 14 matchups.
"Those are two games (against Grosse Ile) we have to win," Billau said. "New Boston will be pretty tough, too."
The Big Reds began conditioning in November and started practicing last week in preparation for scrimmages Saturday against Midland and Grand Ledge.
The season opens Monday when the Big Reds travel to Tecumseh to take on the Indians. It's Milan's only game before spring break, and Billau said he was glad to be able to get the Tecumseh game in.
The Big Reds' other goal - aside from not allowing a single goal this season - is to make a deep run in the postseason.
"They're really focusing on districts," Billau said. "We're figuring we'll draw the toughest team possible so our motto is going to be continuous improvement."
Much of Billau's focus will be fostering a team mentality.
"The teams that do well at tournaments are ones that have 11 skilled players that work as a team," he said. "I think if we can get them really thinking everybody's playing defense and everybody's playing offense, we'll have a strong year."
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